H.78
Introduced by Representatives Obuchowski of Rockingham and Partridge of Windham
Referred to Committee on
Date:
Subject: Insurance; health insurance; cervical cancer screening
Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to require health insurance plans to provide coverage for the thin prep Pap test or any other test approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for cervical cancer screening.
AN ACT RELATING TO CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 8 V.S.A. § 4088b is added to read:
§ 4088b. CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Health insurance plan" means any health insurance policy or health benefit plan offered by a health insurer, as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 9402(7). "Health insurance plan" includes any health benefit plan offered or administered by the state, or any subdivision or instrumentality of the state.
(2) "Rate, term or condition" means any lifetime or annual payment limits, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and any other cost-sharing requirements, out-of-pocket limits, visit limits, and any other financial component of health insurance coverage that affects the insured.
(b) A health insurance plan shall provide coverage for the thin prep Pap test or any other test approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for cervical cancer screening, upon recommendation by the patient’s health care provider, as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 9402(6).
(c) A health insurance plan shall not establish any rate, term or condition that places a greater financial burden on an insured for access to cervical cancer screening than for access to screening for any other health condition. Any deductible or out-of-pocket limits required under a health insurance plan shall be comprehensive for coverage of both cervical cancer screening and other similar tests or screenings.